Demand for tokenised assets is gaining momentum in Australia as HNW investors look for more efficient ways to access private markets and traditionally illiquid assets. Wealth managers must ensure their product suites include tokenised options to capitalise on rising demand for straightforward alternatives and portfolio diversification solutions in an increasingly volatile and concentrated investment environment.
GlobalData 2025 Global Wealth Managers Survey
According to GlobalData’s 2025 Global Wealth Managers Survey, 89.3% of Australian private wealth managers either “strongly agree” or “slightly agree” that HNW clients are showing strong demand for tokenised assets. This places Australia among the leading markets globally, only overshadowed by Switzerland and Turkiye.
In Australia, this demand is particularly relevant given the current split in alternative allocations. Australian HNW investors allocate just 6.6% of onshore wealth to alternatives, compared to 18.1% of offshore wealth. This shows that many investors still rely on offshore structures to access a broader range of private market opportunities. Tokenisation could help narrow this gap by making alternative assets more accessible locally through lower minimum investment sizes, improved liquidity, and more efficient distribution.
For wealth managers, the opportunity is to use tokenised assets as a bridge between rising demand for alternatives and the practical access barriers that still limit onshore allocations. Providers that offer robust custody, due diligence, and clear reporting around tokenised private credit, real estate, infrastructure, or other alternatives could capture demand that otherwise will flow offshore.
Heike van den Hoevel is Principal Analyst, Wealth Management, GlobalData